Proposal of Biomimetic Tribological System to Control Friction Behavior under Boundary Lubrication by Applying 3D Metal Printing Process

A new concept was proposed as biomimetic tribological (BMT) system by using three-dimensional (3D) printing process. The BMT had a lubricant supply path (LSP) beneath the sliding surface. The tribological properties could be actively controlled by directly supplying lubricant additives (anti-wear additive and friction modifier) alone to the sliding surface through the LSP during a friction process. To confirm the effectiveness of the LSP surface, for improving the tribological performance, under boundary lubrication, friction tests were conducted on a plate specimen with a lubricant supply path that was manufactured by a 3D metal printer. Experimental results suggest that the LSP surface system was more effective for friction reduction than a conventional system, and it offered an effective way to actively control the tribological performance under boundary lubrication.